Why is Terance Mann untouchable in a James Harden trade if the Clippers won’t even start him?

The Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers seem nearer to creating a James Harden trade than they have been at any level in the offseason up to now. On Thursday, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported that 76ers common supervisor Daryl Morey was once ready to just accept a Harden trade in alternate for wage filler and 3 property: one unprotected first around select, one first-round change and backup guard Terance Mann. The Clippers spoke back by means of informing the 76ers that they wouldn’t be offering Mann in any Harden deal.

The knowledge of that call is controversial, however there is some good judgment at the back of it. The Clippers have already got the NBA’s second-oldest roster and, by means of obtaining Harden, would handiest grow older. Mann is the second-youngest participant in their projected rotation at the back of beginning heart Ivica Zubac. To fit Harden’s wage, the Clippers must trade a number of giant salaries. Many of the ones salaries, similar to the ones belonging to avid gamers like Nic Batum, Norman Powell and Robert Covington, are connected to avid gamers the Clippers would favor to stay for intensity. Mann can be helpful intensity on a Harden group.

According to Amick, Morey’s reaction to Mann’s untouchable standing was once that the Clippers have been being “unserious” in negotiations. Frankly, given the approach the Clippers have used Mann, Morey has a level. Though Mann is also younger by means of Clippers requirements, he is already 27 years previous, ostensibly in his high presently and now not a long-term developmental mission. The Clippers shaved his mins considerably remaining season down from 28.6 to 23.1 in line with recreation. Despite taking part in a few of the best possible basketball of his profession remaining season, the Clippers nonetheless benched him to make approach for Russell Westbrook.

Though accidents would have doomed the Clippers both approach, the resolution itself performed out poorly statistically. Lineups that includes Mann, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George however no Westbrook scored a blistering 129.3 issues in line with 100 possessions remaining season whilst outscoring warring parties by means of 7.5 issues in line with 100 possessions. When Westbrook performed with the famous person duo, the Clippers outscored warring parties by means of simply 1.8 issues in line with 100 possessions and posted an unimpressive offensive ranking of simply 109.8. Mann gives the similar pace-pushing get advantages with out Westbrook’s negative loss of taking pictures. 

Based on preseason play, apparently most likely that, barring a Harden trade, Westbrook will stay in the beginning lineup over Mann. After all, he handiest averaged handiest 21.9 mins as a reserve as soon as Westbrook arrived. If Mann have been 19 and ascending into the type of participant that would possibly at some point exchange Leonard and George as the face of the Clippers, protecting him out of trade talks would possibly make some sense. 

But he is not. He’s a 27-year-old participant with some untapped attainable that the Clippers themselves are refusing to faucet. The Clippers have invested 4 years into Mann’s building. They know him higher than every other group in the NBA. If they view him as a starting-caliber participant, they must merely start him. If they do not, they must trade him for Harden, who is a excellent deal higher than each Mann and Westbrook.

If this is a negotiating ploy, it is a dangerous one. Morey is now not precisely identified for settling for lesser gives. If he was once prepared to attend 8 months to trade Ben Simmons, why would not he take the similar means on Harden? If it is a strategic acknowledgment that Westbrook is senseless on a roster with Harden however that they want any individual left over that may generate transition issues, that makes a bit extra sense. But with months of negotiations in the rearview and opening night time looming, a arduous selection is going to must be made.

The Clippers, in their present development, are extraordinarily not likely to meaningfully compete for a championship. Their pursuit of Harden is an acknowledgment of that reality. There is simply hardly a explanation why to let a reserve stand between a group and the participant they themselves know is a necessity for his or her name pursuit. If Mann is greater than a reserve, the Clippers must turn out it by means of if truth be told the usage of him like the untouchable participant they’re announcing he is.